Premier bilan des analyses toxicologiques effectuées dans le contexte du Drug Checking à Genève
December 1, 2020 Caroline Mathon, Christèle Widmer, R. Mégevand et al.
In Geneva, a free, anonymous drug-checking service for recreational psychoactive substances analyzed 115 samples (powders, tablets, blotter papers, liquids, and capsules) over nine months. The stated substance was detected in 97 samples; 8 samples contained no significant substance, and 10 did not match what was declared. Cocaine (n=44), MDMA (n=24), LSD (n=9), and ketamine (n=6) were most common. Median cocaine purity was 69%, with cutting agents including levamisole, phenacetin, caffeine, lidocaine, paracetamol, and ephedrine. Median MDMA powder purity was 91%, and median MDMA tablet dose was 194 mg. The service issued alerts about product quality or high doses, demonstrating the value of this approach for harm reduction among recreational users not reached by other services.